Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha candidate Shashi Tharoor has been booked for allegedly conducting a false campaign against Union Minister and rival candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar, as per police reports disclosed on Sunday.
The case was registered by the Cyber Police on April 15, with details coming to light today. According to police sources, the complaint was filed by BJP leader J R Padmakumar, accusing Tharoor of disseminating defamatory remarks against Chandrasekhar during a television program.
The complainant alleged that Tharoor, during the program, made derogatory statements concerning Chandrasekhar's influence over voters in coastal regions for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
The case has been filed under Sections 171-G and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 65 of the IT Act. Section 171-G pertains to making false statements in connection with an election, while Section 500 deals with defamation.
An investigation into the matter is currently underway, as confirmed by a cyber police official. Tharoor, who is contesting from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, is yet to respond to the registration of the case.
